Pneumatic tensioning, everting, and discharging device and method for circular knitting machines



P. A. MAHLER Sept. 20, 1966 3,273,360 AND DISCHARGING DEVICE PNEUMATIC TENSIONING, EVERTING,

AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1963 HMMIN 17+ .1? m R I mvzmon: PETER A. MAHLER ATTYS.

Sept. 20, 1966 P. A. MAHLER 3,273,360

PNEUMATIC TENSIONING, EVERTING, AND DISCHARGING' DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1963 INVENTOR: PETER A. MAHLER WW ATTYS,

Sept. 20, 1966 P. A. MAHLER 3,273,360

PNEUMATIC TENSIONING, EVERTING, AND DISCHARGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1963 FIGS INVENTOR- PETER A. MAHLER ATTYS P. A. MAHLER Sept. 20, 1966 EVICE PNEUMATIC TENSIONING, EVERTING, AND DISCHARGING D AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 8, 1963 FIGS.

FIG. 9.

mvzn'ron PETER A. MAHLER ATTYS' 3,273,360 PNEUMATIC TENSIONING, EVERTING, AND mscmneme DEVICE P. A. MAHLER Sept. 20, 1966 AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 00".. 8, 1963 INVENTORi BY PETER A. MAHLER MW ATTYS.

United States Patent Jersey Filed Get. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 314,705 14 Claims. (Cl. lid-I49) The present invention relates to improvements in pneumatic drawdown devices for circular knitting machines, and more particularly to pneumatic dr-awdown devices providing means for tensioning the fabric as it is knit and discharging the completed article, and has particular application to a device including means for everting the fabric upon completion of knitting.

A primary purpose of the present invention is to furnish a method for, and a device, pneumatically tensioning the fabric as it is knitted, everting the fabric upon completion of knitting, and discharging the fabric upon completion of everting, while utilizing a single blower of moderate size at increased efficiency to provide for all of the aforementioned functions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatically operated device which functions as heretofore described, with a continuous speed blower which permits the use of a central blower system to service either a plurality of machines, or an individual machine.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide means whereby items knitted on the machine may be selectively discharged to an inspection station rather than the normal stocking discharge collecting means.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a circular knitting machine equipped with a pneumatic drawdown, everting, and discharging device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with sections broken away to illustrate features of the device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the knitting machine illustrated in FIG. 1 showing certain structural details of the device;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 8 illustrating the everting of tubular fabric;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of another embodiment of a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 1l11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional plan view taken along line 1212 of FIG. 11.

Referring now to the drawings, a device constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a conduit which is positioned to receive tubular fabric as it is knit. At the end of the conduit remote from its fabric receiving end is a displaceable fabric receiving element which allows air flow therethrough and is adapted 3,273,363 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 ice to receive the fabric after it has been pressed off the needles of the knitting machine. The fabric receiving element has at least two positions, in the first of which the element aligns in registry with an air suction and the conduit, and in the second of which the element is alignable in registry with an air discharge for ejecting the completed article from the element.

FIGS. 1 and 8 illustrate by way of example, apparatus to which the present invention has been applied. The circular knitting machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is of the type adapted for production of Womens hosiery including a turned welt at the upper portion of the leg. The machine comprises a needle cylinder 1 which carries a circular series of needles 2 (see FIG. 8), and a dial 3 which in the present instance carries an annular series of radially disposed transfer bits (not shown). The transfer bits cooperate with the needles in the formation of a turned welt in a manner well known in the art. In the present instance the cylinder 1 and the dial 3 are rotated in unison about their common axis by mechanism which includes a bevel gear 5 at the lower end of the cylinder 1, which is connected to a suitable driver (not shown) by a bevel gear 6. The knitting machine also includes the usual sinker ring 7 which is attached to the upper end of the cylinder 1 and carries cam actuated sinkers 9 which cooperate with the needles 2 in a known manner. Below the needle cylinder and to the left of the machine as illustrated in FIG. 1, is a pattern device 4, in the present instance a conventional pattern drum, which functions in synchronism with the machine drive in a manner well known in the art. As the remainder of the machine is unnecessary for understanding the device of the present invention, it may be considered conventional. In operation, the tubular fabric 8 formed on the needles 2 passes inside the cylinder 1 and moves downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 8.

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of hollow coaxial conduits, designated a first conduit 10 and a second conduit 11, are mounted inside of the cylinder 1. The outer conduit 10 is supported at its upper end on the fixed frame of the machine by a bracket 12 and at its lower end on a bed plate 35 by an angle brace 22 engaging an elbow 14 of the conduit (see FIGS. 2 and 7). The second conduit extends through the elbow 14 and is supported against lateral movement by means of the alignment screws 13a, 13b, and located in the elbow 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 7). As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first conduit 10 has a primary terminus which lies just below the lower portion of the dial 3 with suiiicient clearance to prevent inadvertent contact with either the sinkers 9 or the dial 3. Further, the first conduit 10 is flared outwardly at 15 so as to lie in close proximity to the inner surface of the cylinder. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the secondary conduit 11 extends upwardly in spaced relation to the inner surface of the primary conduit 10 and has a primary terminus which in the present instance terminates below the upper end of the primary conduit 10. The conduits are so positioned that when suction is applied to the first conduit 10 the differential pressure existing between the second conduit 11 and the first conduit will cause the fabric to be pressed outwardly so that upon continuation of knitting the fabric will be positioned between the inside of the first conduit 10 and the outside of the second conduit 11.

In order to enable easy insertion of the primary conduit into the cylinder, the conduit is provided with a joint 17 which is located in the lower portion of the machine in a position easily accessible by the machine operator. Immediately below the joint 17 is a rotatable collar 18 which has an aperture or hand hole 19 which is of sufficient size to allow the operator, upon rotation of the collar 18 so a that the hand hole 19 aligns with an aperture (not shown) in the first conduit 10, to reach inside the first conduit to inspect the fabric being knitted.

At the lower portion of the machine, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, air supply means, in the present instance a centrifugal blower 30, provides an air intake 31 and an air discharge 32. The whole device is supported on the bed plate 35 which is removably secured, in the present instance, on the frame of the machine. In this way the device may be removed for replacement or repair. Interposed between the air intake and the termination of the conduits in the elbow 14 is valve means 40, which is operable to selectively connect the air intake to either the first conduit through a connecting line 33 or to the secondary conduit 11 through a connecting line 34. The selective movement of the valve means 40 provides a downward air flow in the first conduit 10 as the fabric is being knit thereby tensioning the fabric. After an item has been completely knitted the air suction from the connecting line 33, and thus the first conduit 10, is switched to connecting line 34 and the second conduit 11, thereby providing a flow of air downwardly through the second conduit causing the stocking to be everted.

In accordance with the invention, interposed between the secondary conduit outlet in the elbow 14, and the connecting line 34 is a displaceable fabric receiving element 45 which is operable to allow air flow therethrough so as to constitute a part of the air passage from the secondary conduit 11 into the blower intake 31. After the stocking has been received in the fabric receiving element 45, the element is displaced to a position where it registers with the air discharge 32 and associated discharge tubing 38 for discharging the stocking to a stocking receiving station.

As previously explained at their lower ends the conduits terminate in the elbow 14. The first conduit 10 communicates with the air intake 31 through an outlet b, and an associated connecting line 33, and the second conduit communicates with the air intake 31 through an outlet 25a.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the element 45 is mounted for swinging movement between a pair of plates 26 and 27 in parallel spaced relation, each of the plates having a pair of apertures in axial registry with the pair of apertures in the other plate. The forward plate 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) has a first aperture 28a opening into the outlet 25a of the second conduit 11 and a second aperture 29a opening into the discharge tubing 38. The first aperture 28b of the after plate 27 (see FIG. 4) opens into the air intake line 34 andthe second aperture 29b opens into the air discharge 32 of the blower (see FIG. 2). As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the displaceable fabric receiving element 45 comprises a basket 46 connected through a support plate 47 to a pivot pin 48 mounted between the apertured plates 26 and 27.

The fabric receiving element 45 is shiftable from alignment with the apertures 28a and 28b to the apertures 29a and 2% by actuating means comprising a solenoid 49 connected to the support 4-7. The solenoid 49 is actuated at a suitable time upon tripping of a switch 54 by the pattern device 4 of the knitting machine (see FIG. 1).

The basket 46, in its normal or first position is aligned in registry with apertures 28a and 28b for receipt of a completed stocking and to allow air flow through the basket. To this end, grid means 50 is integrally mounted in the basket at the end thereof adjacent to the aperture 28b in the after plate 27. The grid openings are of a size suflicient to prevent knitted articles from passing therethrough but insuflicient to impede the air flow. At the opposite end 51 of the basket 46, the inside wall of the basket is tapered inwardly to provide a reduced entrance opening which is aligned with the aperture 250. The purpose of this taper is to prevent the stocking, after receipt in the basket 46, from inadvertently snagging 4 between the forward plate 26 and the front edge of the basket as the basket swings from alignment with apertures 28a and 28b, to alignment with apertures 29a and 29b.

The valve means is disposed between the air intake 31 and the the connecting lines 33 and 34 to selectively connect these connecting lines to the air intake. As is best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the valve means 40 comprises a shiftable valve element 60 centrally pivoted at 61 in a cylindrical casing 62. In the upper and lower portions of the casing 62 are small screened openings 63a and 63b respectively, which communicate with the atmosphere. The normal position of the valve is indicated by the broken lines shown in FIG. 6 with the connecting line 33 linking the air intake 31. In this position the valve element side walls 64a and 64b form a flow-through chamber which permits a direct connection of the intake 31 only with the connecting line 33. However the screened opening 63b is in communication with the connecting line 34 allowing air flow from the atmosphere to pass upwardly through the second conduit 11, down the primary conduit 10 and back through the valve means 40 into the air intake 31. Alternatively when the valve element 60 is in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 6, air flow is from the connecting line 34 to the air intake 31, and the screened aperture 63a permits air flow upwardly through the first conduit 10 and downwardly through the second conduit 11, the fabric receiving element and through the valve element to the air intake 31. In the present instance the valve element 60 is actuated by a solenoid 65 which is electrically operated by the switch 52 by the pattern device 4 tripping the switch 52. Thus the valve means 40 has two positions, the first of which causes an air flow downwardly on the first conduit and upwardly in the second conduit thereby tensioning the fabric, and the second position of which causes the air fiow to commence upwardly in the first conduit and downwardly in the second conduit to evert the stocking (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

After the completed item has been pulled through the second conduit 11 into the displaceable fabric receiving element 45, the solenoid 49 causes the element to shift to its second position, aligned with apertures 29a and 2% which are respectively in communication with the discharge tubing 38 and the air discharge 32 of the blower 30 (see FIG. 2). This causes the fabric to be ejected from the basket 46 through the discharge tubing 38 to a stocking receiving station through an outlet 3815. In the discharge tubing 38 is a bifurcation, in the present instance a T which, as best illustrated in FIG. 2 is equipped with second valve means comprising a flapper valve 71 connected through a side wall of the T 70 to a counter mechanism 72 which is operable to connect the discharge tubing 38 to an inspection station outlet 38a by moving the flapper valve 71 so that at a predetermined time the flapper valve allows the air to discharge the fabric to either of the outlets 3811 or 38a as desired. In normal use the flapper valve 71 is in a position as shown by the heavy lines in FIG. 2, however at predetermined intervals it may be desired to route a completed item of fabric to an inspection station and at that time the flapper valve 71 may be positioned as shown in the dotted lines to cause the fabric to emit from the discharge outlet 38a.

The counter mechanism is of standard type such as a photocell assembly comprising a light source 73 connected on one side of the discharge tubing 38 and a photocell 74 on the other side so as to interrupt the receipt of light by the photocell 74 upon passage of a completed item therethrough. The photocell 74 is shown connected to a counter 75 which is actuated once each time the light is interrupted, and which upon reaching a predetermined number actuates a solenoid 76 causing the flapper valve 71 to close off the outlet 3811 thereby causing the following stocking to be ejected to the inspection station outlet 38a.

Inasmuch as the present invention enables the use of a continuous, constant speed blower, the same blower may be used to provide a constant suction on the dial trimmer and yarn end control mechanism. To this end, in accordance with another feature of the invention a hollow dial suction conduit 100 is connected between the air intake 31 and the dial 3 to control and to receive yarn ends which have been severed upon introduction of new yarn feeds and upon withdrawal of old yarn feeds. The dial suction conduit 100 has a receiving inlet associated with the dial at 101, in the present instance between the sinker ring 7 and the dial 3, and a suction inlet 102 at the air intake 31. To prevent the yarn ends from being sucked into the air intake 31, a yarn receiver 103 is interposed in the conduit 100 in a position easily accessible by the machine operator for removal of the yarn ends.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12. In this embodiment of the invention a fabric receiving element 145 similar to the fabric receiving element 45 acts as the valve means to not only selectively direct the air flow towards the air intake 131, but also to receive the everted fabric and discharge it as well. To this end the apertured plates 126 and 127, corresponding to the apertured plates 26 and 27 as heretofore described, have three apertures which are axially aligned so as to communicate with the fabric receiving element 145. These apertures are designated 142a, 143a, and 144a in the plate 126 and corresponding apertures aligned in plate 127 are designated 142b, 143b and 1441). The basket 146 is constructed to include aperture cover means 156 which extends from the one end of the basket 146 at either side thereof. The aperture cover means 156 is provided so that when the basket 146 is in alignment with the primary conduit 110, the aperture cover means aligns with the aperture on the air intake side 131 communicating with the connecting line 134 so that the air intake 131 does not communicate with the atmosphere. Alternatively, when the fabric receiving elements basket 146 is in alignment with the apertures 143a and 14312, and thus with the second conduit 111, the right hand portion of the aperture cover means 156 covers the aperture 142b and prevents the air intake from sucking air elsewhere save through the basket 146 and thus the second conduit 111.

It should be noted, as is illustrated in FIG. 11 in dotted lines, when the basket 146 is in its second position, i.e. aligned with apertures 143a and 14312, the aperture cover means does not cover the aperture 144b and thus there is no impairment of the air discharge from the air discharge 132. The only other modification to the primary embodiment as heretofore defined, is that the solenoid 149 is double acting and capable of providing a first, second, and third position.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention heretofore described all include apparatus for everting the fabric. The reason for everting tubular fabric knitted on a circular knitting machine is that in the knitting process, the fabric as knitted is formed right side out and must be turned so that the toe may be seamed in a subsequent operation. On those machines which knit rib fabric there is no inside or outside to the fabric and thus the step of everting the fabric and the apparatus for carrying out this function is not necessary. In a case such as the latter there would be no necessity for a second conduit and valve means therefore, and accordingly there only has to be one air intake line which communicates with the fabric receiving element thereby allowing air to flow downwardly through the primary conduit. In an embodiment where everting is not necessary, upon receipt of the fabric into the element at the termination of knitting, the element may be shifted to the second position aligning with the air discharge thereby ejecting the fabric.

It should be noted that in all of the embodiments of the invention, the valve means, which in the case of the noneverting apparatus is the receiving element, may also be operated to reduce the tension on the knitted fabric during, for example makeup, transfer or press off. More specifically, the fabric receiving element may be aligned with the discharge side of the blower during press off, thereby preventing any unraveling of the fabric during the press off. Of course, thereafter the fabric receiving element is repositioned to accept the pressed off fabric.

In the event that an item of fabric is inadvertently prematurely pressed off during the knitting cycle, and in accordance with another feature of the invention, air blowout means is provided to clear the first conduit of fabric. To this end, and as best illustrated in FIG. 7, the air blowout means comprises a compressed air source 200, and an air line 201 which terminates in a nozzle 202 which passes through the casing wall of the elbow or T 14. The terminus of the nozzle 202 is preferably positioned upwardly so that when a premature press off occurs, the dial may be lifted, in a known manner, and the compressed air source 200 activated by opening a valve 203 to thereby eject the fabric from the conduit.

Thus applicant with the present invention has furnished a device which pneumatically tensions; the fabric as it is knitted, everts the fabric upon completion of the knitting, and discharges the stocking upon completion of everting while utilizing a single blower of moderate size at increased efliciency to provide for all of the afore-mentioned functions. Applicant has further provided an invention whereby items knitted on the machine may be selectively discharged to an inspection station rather than the normal stocking discharge collecting means. Also, since the present invention enables the operation of the blower at a constant rather than a varying speed to carry out the abovementioned functions, it permits the use of a centralized, constant speed blower system to service a plurality of knitting machines.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts as well as the method of operation may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for everting, tensioning, and discharging tubular fabric fed from a circular knitting machine, said knitting machine having a hollow needle cylinder, said device comprising first and second hollow coaxial conduits, said first conduit having a primary terminus inside said cylinder, said second conduit having a primary terminus terminating in said first conduit, said conduits terminating at another end remote from said primary terminus, air supply means having an air intake and an air discharge, valve means interposed between said air intake and said other end of said conduits and operable to selectively connect said air intake to said first conduit whereby said fabric being knitted is placed in tension, and to said second conduit at the termination of said knitting to thereby evert the knitted fabric and draw the knitted fabric through the second conduit, said device having a fabric receiving element operable to allow air flow therethrough and displaceable between at least two positions, in the first of said positions said element aligned in registry with said second conduit for receiving said fabric therefrom, in the second of said positions said element aligned with said air discharge for discharging the fabric from said element.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said displaceable fabric receiving element comprises a hollow basket, grid means mounted in said basket operable to allow air flow therethrough but able to prevent fabric from passing therethrough, said basket having support means and actuating means operable to shift said basket between said first and second positions.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 including fabric discharge tubing alignable for registry with said basket when said basket is in communication with said air discharge, a bifurcation in said tubing providing passages leading to two predetermined positions respectively, and a second valve means in said discharge tubing at said bifurcation operable selectively to cause said discharged fabric to be ejected to one of said two predetermined positions.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second valve means includes a presettable counter mechanism, a valve in said discharge tubing connected to said counter mechanism, fabric detection means able to count the number of completed knitted items passing through said discharge tubing and connected through said counter mechanism to said valve causing the latter to shift the fabric discharged to one of said positions.

5. A device for everting, tensioning, and discharging tubular fabric fed from a circular knitting machine, said knitting machine having a hollow needle cylinder, a dial, and a sinker cam ring, said device comprising first and second hollow coaxial conduits, said first conduit having a primary terminus inside said cylinder, said second conduit having a primary terminus terminating in said first cn duit, said conduits terminating at another end remote from said primary terminus, air supply means having an air intake and air discharge, valve means interposed between said air intake and said conduit termination chamber and operable to selectively connect said air intake to said first conduit whereby said fabric being knitted is placed in tension, and to said second conduit at the termination of knitting to thereby evert the knitted fabric and draw the knitted fabric through the second conduit, said device having a fabric receiving element operable to allow air flow therethrough and displaceable between at least two positions, in the first of said positions said element aligned in registry with said second conduit for receiving said fabric from said second conduit, in the second of said positions said element aligned with said air discharge for discharging the fabric from said element, a dial suction conduit connected at said air intake, said dial suction conduit having a receiving inlet in association with said dial to draw yarn ends into said dial suction conduit.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 including a yarn receiver between said receiving inlet and said air intake and adapted to collect said yarn ends prior to their passage into said air supply means.

7. A device for everting, tensioning, and discharging tubular fabric fed from a circular knitting machine, said knitting machine having a hollow needle cylinder, said device comprising first and second hollow coaxial conduits, said first conduit having a primary terminus inside said cylinder, said second conduit having a primary terminus in said first conduit, said conduits having a secondary terminus remote from said primary terminus in a T, air supply means having an air intake and air discharge, valve means interposed between said air intake and said T and operable to selectively connect said air intake to said first conduit whereby said fabric being knitted is placed in tension, and to said second conduit at the termination of knitting to thereby evert the knitted fabric and draw the knitted fabric through the second conduit, a pair of apertured plates in parallel spaced relation, the first of said plates having a first aperture connected to the second conduit through said T, the second of said plates having a first aperture connected to said air intake and a second aperture connected to said air discharge, a fabric receiving element interposed between said first and second plates and operable to allow air flow therethrough, said element displaceable between a first position in registry with said first apertures to thereby receive said fabric and a second position in registry with said second aperture to discharge the fabric from the element.

8. A device for everting, tensioning, and discharging tubular fabric fed from a circular knitting machine, comprising first and second hollow coaxial conduits, said conduits positioned so as to receive inside the first of said conduits and outside the second of said conduits the tubular fabric as it is knitted, said conduits terminating in a position remote from their fabric receiving end, air supply means having an air intake and air discharge, valve means interposed between said air intake and said conduits and operable to selectively connect said air intake to said first conduit to thereby tension said fabric being knitted, and to said second conduit at the termination of knitting to thereby evert the knitted fabric and draw the fabric through the second conduit, said device having a fabric receiving element operable to allow air flow therethrough, said element displaceable between a first and second position, in the first of said positions said element being in registry with the second conduit and the air intake for receiving said fabric, and in the second position in registry with the air discharge for discharging the fabric.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 including air blow-out means in said T and operable upon actuation to blow said fabric out of said first conduit.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said air blow-out means comprises a compressed air source connected to a nozzle, said nozzle having an upwardly projecting terminus in said first conduit.

11. A method of pneumatically tensioning and discharging fabric from a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder with a first passageway therein for the receipt of knitted fabric and a second passageway inside said first passageway substantially coaxial therewith, and a hollow displaceable fabric receiving element: including the steps of applying an air suction to said first passageway as said fabric is being knit thereby tensioning said fabric, pressing off said fabric to dis-associate said fabric from said cylinder, applying air suction to said second passageway immediately after said fabric is pressed off and simultaneously terminating said air suction to said first passageway thereby everting the fabric, entrapping said fabric in said element, and thereafter displacing said element and discharging air therethrough to remove said fabric from the knitting machine.

12. A device for tensioning and discharging tubular fabric fed from a circular knitting machine having a hollow circular needle cylinder, comprising at least one hollow conduit, said conduit positioned inside of said cylinder so as to receive the fabric as it is knitted, air supply means having an air intake and air discharge, said conduit terminating in a position remote from its fabric receiving end, a fabric receiving element operable to allow air flow therethrough and displaceable between a first and second position, said fabric receiving element comprising a hollow basket and including grid means mounted in said basket operable to allow air flow therethrough but able to prevent fabric from passing therethrough, said basket having support means and actuating means operable to shift said basket between said first and second position, in the first of said positions said element being in registry with said conduit and said air intake for receiving said fabric from said conduit, and in the second position in registry with the air discharge for discharging the fabric from said element, fabric discharge tubing alignable for registry with said basket when said basket is in the second position, a bifurcation in said tubing providing passages leading to two predetermined positions respectively, and valve means in said discharge tubing at said bifurcation operable selectively to cause said discharged fabric to be ejected to one of said two predetermined positions.

13. A device for tensioning and discharging tubular fabric fed from a circular knitting machine having a hollow circular needle cylinder, comprising at least one hollow conduit, said conduit positioned interiorly of said cylinder so as to receive the fabric as it is knitted, air supply means having an air intake and air discharge, said conduit terminating in a postion remote from its fabric receiving end, a fabric receiving element operable to allow air flQW therethrough and displaceable between a first and second position, in the first of said positions said element being in registry with said conduit and said air intake, and in the second of said positions in registry with the air discharge for discharging the fabric from said element, a second conduit inside said one conduit and coaxial with said one conduit, said second conduit terminating in lateral spaced relation to said one conduit, said air intake being alignable separately with said one conduit and said second conduit, said displaceable fabric receiving element alignable in an intermediate position between said first and second position to register With said air intake and said second conduit for receiving said fabric from said second conduit.

14. A device in accordance with claim 13 wherein said fabric receiving element comprises a hollow basket having grid means at one end, a support connected to said basket and mounted so as to enable shifting of said basket, said basket thereby selectively capable of registry in said three positions, aperture cover means integrally connected to said basket on the end of said basket adjacent said air intake, 2. pair of connecting lines from said air intake align- 10 able with said one conduit and said second conduit, said aperture cover means closing off one of said connecting lines when said fabric receiving element is in the first position, said aperture cover means closing off said other connecting line when said fabric receiving element is in the second of said positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,301 11/1961 Whitfield 66-149 3,063,275 11/1962 Luchi 66-149 3,071,949 1/1963 St. Pierre 66150 3,159,015 12/1964 Moretta 66-149 FOREIGN PATENTS 578,807 7/1958 Italy.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

W. C. REYNOLDS, Examiner. 

8. A DEVICE FOR EVERTING, TENSIONING, AND DISCHARGING TUBULAR FABRIC FED FROM A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE, COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND HOLLOW COAXIAL CONDUITS, SAID CONDUITS POSITIONED SO AS TO RECEIVE INSIDE THE FIRST OF SAID CONDUITS AND OUTSIDE THE SECOND OF SAID CONDUITS THE TUBULAR FABRIC AS IT IT KNITTED, SAID CONDUITS TERMINATING IN A POSITION REMOTE FROM THEIR FABRIC RECEIVING END, AIR SUPPLY MEANS HAVING AN AIR INTAKE AND AIR DISCHARGE, VALVE MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID AIR INTAKE AND SAID CONDUITS AND OPERABLE TO SELECTIVELY CONNECT SAID AIR INTAKE TO SAID FIRST CONDUIT TO THEREBY TENSION SAID FABRIC BEING KNITTED, AND TO SAID SECOND CONDUIT AT THE TERMINATION OF KNITTING TO THEREBY EVERT THE KNITTED FABRIC AND DRAW THE FABRIC THROUGH THE SECOND CONDUIT, SAID DEVICE HAVING A FABRIC RECEIVING ELEMENT OPERABLE TO ALLOW AIR FLOW THERETHROUGH, SAID ELEMENT DISPLACEABLE BETWEEN A FIRST AND SECOND POSITION, IN THE FIRST OF SAID POSITIONS SAID ELEMENT BEING IN REGISTRY WITH 